Improvement in hand-planters



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELSON SAFFORD, OF PLEASANT VALLEY, VERMONT.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAND-PLANTERS.

I Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 58,4186, d ated October 2, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELsoN SAFFORD, of Pleasant Valley, in the county ot Chittenden and State of Vermont, have invented a new and Improved SeedPlanting Attachment for Hoes; and I do hereby declare tha-t the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the artto make and use `the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part ot this specitication, in which- Figure l is a side view otl my invention, taken in the line x ai, Fig. 2; Fig. 2, au inverted plan of the same; Fig. 3, an enlarged detached side sectional view of one ot' the sliding boxes pertaining to the same, y y, Fig. 4, indicating the line of section, Fig. 4, a plan or top view of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a detached end view ot' one of the seed-scattcrers pertaining to the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to a new and iinproved seed-planting attachment for hoes, whereby seed may be dropped and covered with the hoe at one operation.

The invention consists in a novel means einployed for varying the capacity otl the seedcells, in order to suit the size of the seed to be planted and the quantity to be deposited in a hill at each dropping, and also in an imi proved means for scattering the seed.

A represents a hoe, and B the handle thereo't. These parts may be ot usual construction, and therefore do not require a minute description.

O represents a seedbox, which may be of cylindrical or other form, and constructed ot` sheet metal or wood. To the under side of this seed-box there are affixed two rectangular tubes, a a, in which slides D D are fitted, and work freely. These slides may be of sheet metal, and made in the form ot' rectangular tubes, in order to insure lightness, and in each slide D there is tted a vertical tube, E, the capacity ot which may be varied, as desired, by inserting one or more concentric metal bands, b, within it, as shown clearly in Fig. 4. These bands b are constructed of any elastic sheet metal, bent in the form of tubes,

and having lapped ends, so that they will be kept in the tubes E by virtue ot' their own elasticity.

The inner or rear end of each slide D has a rod, F, attached, and these rods pass through a bar, G, which passes through the hoe-han dle B, or through a block, c, attached thereto, and on the rod F there are placed spiral springs H, one end of which bears against the slides D, and the opposite ends against the bar G. These springs. I-I have a tendency to keep the slides D shoved forward to such an extent that the tubes E will be in front of and out of line with holes a' in the bottom of the tubes a, and in line with holes din the bottom of the seed-box O, as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

The rods F have cords I attached to them, which extend back, and are connected to the handle at a point convenient to be actuated by the right hand of the operator. y

When a dropping ot seed is to be made, the

operator simply draws back one of the slidesV D, so as 'to bring its tube E in line with the hole c' in thc bottom ot' the tube u, and out of line with the hole d., in the bottom of the seedbox.

requisite space between the kernels or grains.

Instead ot' a circular convex plate, a double inclined plate, K, may be used, as shown in Fig. 5.

This scatterer K would be preferable in those cases where the seed is to be scattered lengthwise in rows.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-J' 1. The elastic bands b, one or more, titted in the tube or hole E ot' a seed-dropping slide, for the purpose of varying the capacity of the same, siibstantiall y as and for the purpose set forth.

Y 2. The scattcrcrs, constructed as shown, or

in any equivalent way, when applied to a hoeV seed-planter, substantially as and for the pur pose specified.

NELSON SAFFORD.

Witnesses PETER COOKE, ALEX. F. ROBERTS.

The two slides D are used in order that dis- 

